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: but faithful Pat.
1”
"What's the matter with you ?” cried Torn, impatiently.
“Don’t you want to go?”
“Indad, I do not.”
“Well, then, wait here for me.”
“Ye’l1 be dhropped from the clouds an’ kilt intoirely,
Misther Tom, jist as his father was, sorr."
“I’ll take my chances, Pat. Let go my arm, will you?”
“Are you not coming, monsieur,” asked the French-
man, reappearing at the door.
“At once, Monsieur Durand," and, shaking off Pat’s
hand, he followed the Frenchman; and Pat, with a groan
and a shake of the head, went along too.
Durand led them to ‘an inclosure at the rear of the
house, and there Tom saw for the first time the flying
machine in which he was destined to meet with more
than one strange adventure.
It was made of polished white wood, somewhat resem-
bled a boat in shape, and was about twenty feet in length.
At one end was a four-bladed metal screw, and there were
several other screws at the top of iron rods, fixed, mast-
like, on the upper deck of the machine.
Durand opened a door in the side of the machine, and
bade Tom enter. He did so, followed by the terrified
The interior was fitted up much like the cabin of a
ferryboat, with seats on either side.
In the center of the apartment was a small machine,
standing about four feet from the ground, and occupying
perhaps two feet of Hoor space.
Nearly all its works were concealed in a polished white
wood box, but through a thick plate glass at the top Tom
could see an elaborate system of cogged wheels.
In one side of the machine was a small, funnel-like
opening. ‘
“Are you ready?” asked Durand.
“How long does it take to prepare for the ascent?"
inquired Tom.
“Thirty seconds.”
“Thirty seconds only?”
"Oui, monsieur."
“Is your motive power electricity, then ?”
The Frenchman smiled mysteriously.
"Non; eet ees a far greater force-zere lies my greatest
'‘ discovery.”
“Well, are you going up with us, Pat?” asked Tom.
“Sure, Misther Tom, if you go I must. but ”
“That settles it, then; go ahead, monsieur."
The Frenchman took from his breast pocket a small
bottle, containing a colorless liquid, a few drops of which
he poured into the funnel-shaped opening referred to.
Then he removed the square of plate glass, and slightly
., changed the position of a lever. Immediately the ma-
chine began to rise swiftly.
Pat uttered a howl of terror, and covered his eyes with
his hands.
But Tom was too deeply interested to pay any atten-
tion to him. "
“What is your motive power. monsieur ?" he persisted.
I “Zat ees ze granrle secret." replied Durand. “Here is
ze steering apparitiis"--directing Tom’s attention to a
small wheel at one end of the cabin. “By zis. you see, I
, regulate ze course at will."
They were now directly over the city, perhaps two
20 BRAVE A
NI) BOLD.
hundred feet above the ground, and traveling at the rate
of at least a mile a minute.
Looking down, whom should Tom see among the
amazed throngs that were gazing up at them but Burton
Duffield, who was surveying them through a pair of
opera glasses.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE NELLIE.
“Duffield!” exclaimed Tom, involuntarily, as his eyes
rested upon the form of the man who had followed him so
persistently.
“Vat ees zat you say, Monsieur Peenkney?" asked
Durand. “I do not understand.”
“Duffield!” almost howled Pat, uncovering his eyes
and clinching his fists. “VVhere is he, Misther Tom?
Sure, he’s not in this divil’s machine, is he?"
“No,” laughed Torn, “not exactly. There he is Vontlcr."
But by this time the figure of Burton Duliielld was a
mere speck, and even Pat's quick eyes could not dis-
tinguish him.
“Well, sorr," said the Irishman. with a sigh of relief.
“we’re safer up here out 0’ his way than we w’ii'd be
down there wid him, Oi'm thinkin’.”
“That’s the best way to look at it,” said Tom. “W'ell.
Pat, what do you think of this way of traveling, am‘-
how ?" '
“An’ is it thravelin’ we are ?" asked Pat, peering out
of the window. “Sure the earth seems ter be movin’, an‘
we standin’ still.”
Sohsmoothly did the machine make its way that this
'was,.indeed, the effect produced. They were now mov-
ing in an easterly direction, and it was evident to Tom
that the speed of the machine was steadily increasing.
How fast are we going now?’: he asked Durand.
. The Frenchman glaced at a tiny dial just over the steer-
mg apparatus, and replied:
:26 last mile was made in exactly thirty-eight seconds.”
0111)’ tl“”)"C1ght 59-C0r1<1S!” exclaimed Tom, in amaze-
ment.
“Oui, monsieiir. Zat is not’ing,
America, zen you shall see how ze mac
They were at present over the
Yokohama was rapidly receding.
“Well, Pat," inquired Tom,
steamship travel?"
“Begorra, Misther Tom, ye’re right,” repned the Irish-
flan. Who SCCmf-‘Cl tc) be rapidly recovering his spirits.
Sure. I feel no saysickness at all, at all ”
“Of course you don't. Well, this is i
going to return to New York."
“D'ye mane that, sorr ?”
“I do.”
Durand sprang forward and
There were tears in his eyes, and 1
when he said:
Ven ve start for
hine s’all go.”
Pacific Ocean, and
“doesn’t this lay over
the way that we’re
grasped Tom’s hand.
iis voice was tremiilous
“Monsieur P
in me ?"
“Of course I have.'
can l help it, when I
Cmkne-V’ you’ at least. have ze confidence
, A .
Ssml Pom.(‘l]tl111Sl:lStlC?1ll)'. “How
see what you lizive done ?"
. . . H I 1' A III". '1'
tell
him
for
H‘
seer
s’all
pate
is c
cou